Everything seems to end in tragedy

That is what my belief has always been

Until the feeling of a you and me

Now the dream of it turns me very grim

How to forget this crazy delusion

Of a future I now can’t envision

An odd mind trick, an absurd illusion

The expiration of this collision

I started to believe your lying words

Aimed to get past those great hesitations

Those thousands of worries, my friend’s concerns

Now you see the clues for separation

The cry of sorrow, the need to move on

I shalln’t lose sight of what we came upon

Submitted By: Alyssa Chang (9th Grade)

Description: From belief in love to disillusionment and separation.

Sometimes love can hurt a little too much

Maybe I cared for you more than I thought

Sometimes I miss your gentle, loving touch

And yet I'm waiting for you at our spot

You marooned me at my most helpless then

The pain you caused me made my heart bleed out

I shall never let that happen again

Because I would rather die in a drought

I am still trying to move on from you

Find something else to occupy my mind

You are now so far from my number two

And I am finally no longer blind

I'm finally better and stronger now

And I don't need to hear your worthless vow

Submitted By: Alyssa T Chang (9th Grade)

Description: Love's pain leads to growth; moving on brings strength and clarity.

I should've given up a long time ago

But I guess my heart just can't accept that

Yet all my mind wants to do is say no

Because I have a complicated past

I've been hurt thrice, one of them being you

So I took that pain to become power

And I'm now better than that girl you knew

I don't need affection from a coward

I've grown up more than you could ever see

But I don't need you to approve of me

Because after months, I'm finally free

I no longer care if you disagree

Because your love is something I don't need

I have me, myself, and I to succeed

Submitted By: Alyssa T Chang (9th Grade)

Description: Despite past hurt, newfound strength brings independence and freedom from needing approval or love.

I've been bent, bruised, and broken for too long

I'm always falling for the wrong people

But that has become what's made me so strong

And you could possibly call me evil

I gave my heart away too many times

Let my shield fall when I knew I shouldn't have

I should've learned from all those declines

Because my heart has finally gone bad

Those nights I spent crying aren't wasted

Those bitter feelings are not forgotten

You should know that back then, I would've waited

But today you're just someone foreign

I guess a "thank you" is what I owe you

So thank you for telling me "we're through"

Submitted By: Alyssa T Chang (9th Grade)

Description: Past heartbreaks have toughened one, allowing one to move on without regret or remorse.

I've been living with two different sides

These two varying personalities

But I ask, what if they were to collide?

What if fantasy met reality?

Would I be stuck in the middle again?

Can I run? Where would I even run to?

Would war begin before I count to ten?

Can I please just start over somewhere new?

Rewind the clock and change what would happen

Stop the war before the rebellion starts

Not let the other me be imagined

But leave everything behind at what cost?

I'll live with these two sides in the meantime

And hope my worlds don't decide to decline

Submitted By: Alyssa T Chang (9th Grade)

Description: Living with conflicting sides, yearning for a fresh start and unity without consequence.

I said there's no chance of another one

I said goodbye to real life true love

I was hurt enough times to say "I'm done"

So I was waiting to join those above

But somehow, someway, you still stole my heart

And you made me promises, gave me your word

If you break them like he did, at what cost?

And I don't want my fears to be confirmed

And yet you've proven time and time again

That you're true and you care for me, love me

And you've always asked for my consent

So your love seems to be a guarantee

And I will always love you, for all time

Cause I'm with you till the end of the line

Submitted By: Alyssa T Chang (9th Grade)

Description: Despite past pain, newfound love brings hope and trust, enduring through time.

What happened to me?

My belief that real life love was nonsense

My hatred for love songs and couples

My dislike of physical touch

What happened to me?

Well, I fell in love... again

My first “relationship” wasn’t that extravagant

Or public or anything

But I still dove in head first

Only to come back to the surface broken

I said he wasn’t the only one to cause me pain

And that’s true

But I got over it, all of it

And I sent my belief in love to heaven

Then I wrote you a poem,

A confession, some might say

Then 24 hours later,

I get a text

From you

And it said,

“I’ve been thinking about that poem

You wrote about me the other day,

And it was a very sweet and loving poem

That I appreciated very much,

And I feel like I need to tell you something,

I’ve liked you for a while now,

Once we started talking

And seeing how similar we are to each other,

I always felt you had something inside that yearned to be released

And I’ve been having that same feeling,

Then I was overwhelmed,

By millions of emotions at once

And I believe that if we were to start a relationship,

It would work out, but I wish for us to go slow,

If that’s alright with you”

And I was left speechless, dumbfounded

Because I never thought anyone could like me

Because I was too scared to try for a fourth time

And yet, I agreed

And for the first part of our newfound relationship,

I ran from hope,

So that when you would say goodbye,

It wouldn’t hurt as much

But then you said those three little words

And I felt a pang in my chest,

Something that I normally associated with pain

But this wasn’t that

It was the first glimpse of hope,

The first speck of light to shine in my then dull heart

But I couldn’t say it back,

Because a part of me was still in denial

And I couldn’t entertain false hope,

Then we told our friends about us,

And I saw a smile creep onto your face

Then that hit of “pain” shot through me

So, that night,

I texted you,

Those three little words, finally

Time skip

I showed you another poem,

The one I wrote to him, explaining my past,

And how you make me feel

And how I always feel like a bullet hits me

Whenever we’re together,

I won’t say I didn’t think

You would leave right then and there,

Say it was too much and you couldn’t take it

But you didn’t

And so much more has happened,

Our relationship only growing as time goes on

And you’ve only brought more light

Into my life and into my heart,

You know I have my problems,

But you don’t shy away from them

And you’re always there when I need it most,

Now, when that bullet hits me,

I know it’s hope and love

And call me lovesick, but I don’t know if I can afford to lose it

Now that you mean so much to me,

Because I love you

And you’re everything to me

My Love,

Always and Forever

Submitted By: Anonymous

Description: This poem details the journey from skepticism and the fear of new love into finding hope and healing within a newfound relationship, emphasizing the transformative power of love and discovery through self-worth and acceptance.

I am from an old apartment

Where birds chirp outside every morning

The familiar whistle of friendly neighbors comes to harmonize with the birds

And the concrete rough texture of the building keeps me at bay

I am from the middle-class neighborhood

Where I used to eat lunch on the stairs

Constantly watching the sun rise to its peak in the summer

And where the bugs on the stairs feasted on my fallen food

I am from the red envelopes

from that time of year

where it was the time to give

And from my birthdays of imperfections

where I always shed a tear

I am from San Francisco

Where I lived a part of my life alongside the bustling street

that could not distract me from hearing constant family arguments

I am from my constant journaling

I am from an independent lifestyle

I am from change

As I thought about life

It eventually led to my decline

But soon I found peace within it

It never stopped me

as today I stand even taller

Because of where I am from

Submitted By: Anonymous

Description: This poem reflects on Anonymous’ origins and experiences, rooted in specific locations and memories. Despite facing challenges, including emotional struggles, the speaker ultimately finds peace and embraces change as an integral part of life's journey.

I know it’s been years now 

And I know I see you everyday at school 

I see you at 2nd period, in the morning when I’m going to my locker

And I won’t say I don’t want to say hi

I want to ask you how you’re doing 

And have a regular conversation with you 

But I keep replaying scenarios in my head

Like what would you say? 

Would we talk like nothing’s happened? 

Could we have a normal conversation? 

What if someone walks by and asks about me? Or you? 

What would I say? What would you say? 

Too many questions go unanswered 

Too many replays in my head 

The what ifs, the could haves, the maybes 

It’s too much for me 

Every time I want to text you 

I force myself to turn off the phone 

Cause I can’t risk an outburst 

It’s been too long 

I should be better now 

I should be healed 

And I want to say I am 

But that’s not how I feel, that’s never been how I feel 

I’m supposed to be leaving you behind 

But how can I, when you’re always there, to haunt me 

There’s too many questions 

But I don’t want them answered 

Submitted By: Anonymous

Description: This vulnerable and powerful piece is about an ex that Anonymous had whom they thought they would never see again. This poem highlights the duality of moving on and the feeling of an inability to do so due to the emotional baggage and unanswered questions.

I’ve moved on  

I know I’m better now 

So why is my heart still broken? 

Why am I still getting these flashbacks? 

You were a great part of my past,

When I was starting to give up, 

You came into my life and gave me hope 

Why? 

Why did you give me something we both know was built on lies? 

We’re at the same school now 

We’ve probably crossed paths more than once 

And I’ll admit it 

I was looking for you, for a while 

To see how you were doing 

To see how you have changed 

But not anymore 

I took some time for myself 

I stopped thinking about the past 

About what we used to be 

And look where I am now 

I’m growing and changing 

But it’s for me 

Not you, or anyone else 

I still do wonder 

Have you ever noticed me? 

Have you ever looked for me? 

For the same reasons I looked for you

Because I’m stronger now, but I’m still rebuilding 

I’m still trying to find peace 

I’m still learning to breathe 

But I’m not trying to forget you anymore

You’re not the only one 

Who burned a hole in my heart 

There’s been two others 

One I’ve gotten over, the other I’m still conflicted 

The one I’ve gotten over

I see him everyday and we’re not really friends 

I guess I liked him because I thought he was cool and kind 

I was kind of wrong 

It doesn’t really matter anymore 

Half the time, we’re arguing 

The other half, we’re tolerating each other 

It’s like one of those crushes you think you have, but you actually don’t 

Cause you’re too young to know love 

Cause you’re too naive to walk away 

Then there’s the other one 

I’ve been conflicted about him 

He’s nice and confident and social 

Everything I’m not 

He sees the good in situations 

When I see the bad in them 

I say we’re friends, but my heart doesn’t feel the same 

Not like he notices 

He knows how I feel, well felt 

Because I thought I was over him 

Of course, I was wrong 

We’ll see how this friendship goes 

So, to you

All I have to say is 

You’re not the only one 

The only reason 

That I’ve given up on love 

Submitted By: Anonymous

Description: This poem explores the complexities of moving on from past relationships, reflecting on the lingering pain and unanswered questions while embracing personal growth and self-discovery. Anonymous wants to claim autonomy, but that has proven to be a struggle.

There’s a gap, a hole in my heart, an empty space in my mind 

What can I do to fill it? 

Where’s my closure? 

I threw out all those memories 

I gave away all the clothes you said looked good on me 

I tried to erase the person you turned me into

I did all that work 

I wrote all those poems 

Did it help? 

A little bit 

But not enough, 

In this year, at this age 

We’re supposed to know who we are

What path we’re going to take, what future we want

And honestly, I did know 

Until I drove into a barrier 

A blockade in my path, 

I changed my hair 

My clothing style 

My voice 

I changed me 

Then that boundary was moved

And my path was clear 

But remnants of that wall 

Dug holes in my mind and my heart 

I tried to fill those gaps 

Stitch back together those cuts 

But all that work,  

Just left bigger scars 

And it's been two years 

Since you left 

And I’m still healing 

Still fixing the broken cracks you left 

Now my style is my own 

My voice is mine 

But I’ve lost my path 

And I’m still looking for the right road,  

So when people ask nowadays 

What are you going to do with your life? 

Where is your future going to take you? 

Who are you? 

I can’t answer their questions, 

Not truthfully at least

And I know that so many others my age 

Feel the same way 

Submitted By: Alyssa T Chang (9th Grade)

Description: This is a great submission showcasing the journey of self-discovery and healing after experiencing loss and change, also grappling with identity and young adults’ life challenges and transitions within it. This piece won 1st place in the YA Novelist Convention 2024 Short Story Contest!